Epidemiology

Frequency United States Determination of the frequency of hallucinogenic mushroom toxicity is limited by a lack of a national reporting system or registry for mushroom poisoning and the fact that many affected individuals may never seek medical attention. However, estimates based on small studies or surveillance systems using self-reporting are available. In one study of 174 adolescents with a history of substance abuse, 45 (26%) reported having used hallucinogenic mushrooms at some point in their life, often combined with alcohol or marijuana. From data collected from September 2008 to December 2009, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System reported that 8% of students had used an hallucinogenic drug, including LSD, PCP, angel dust, mescaline, or mushrooms, at least once in their life. Use was more common among males and whites than among females and African Americans and Hispanics. Mortality/Morbidity Mortality from hallucinogenic mushrooms is very rare. Age While little data exist on the age of users of hallucinogenic mushrooms, college students are known to abuse psilocybin mushrooms.